Laser hair removal is like the miracle diet pill that promises great results without changing your habits. It promises silky smooth legs without the annoyance of shaving your legs and nicking up your skin on a regular basis. And while it is relatively safe, women everywhere want to know one thing – does it work? Read on to find out.

So does getting laser hair removal treatment mean a life without shaving all while keeping your legs looking smooth and cut free? It depends on who does the procedure. Sure, using an online coupon to get a treatment at the local salon is one way to go, but you’ll probably end up being horrified with the results – or lack there of.

The lesson here is simple. It’s the old adage of “you get what you pay for.” If you want great results you’re going to want a physician to perform the procedure. A study in JAMA Dermatology revealed that nearly 90% of lawsuits filed over botched laser hair removal procedures were against non-physicians.

So what’s wrong with Sally Salon taking a laser to your skin to try and remove hair? It boils down to the relative ease it takes to become a “certified” laser hair removal specialist. Some provinces have such a low barrier of entry and virtually no enforcement that anyone with a pulse can legally perform the delicate procedure.

It’s not brain surgery, but you are dealing with hair on the human body being removed with laser beams. There is risk involved, and it does take some real training to do it right.

There are other problems that contribute to the issue as well. Laser hair removal equipment is very expensive so salons have to pitch the service to anyone and everyone in order to make a profit.

That means there are a lot of ladies going under the laser that are not good candidates for the procedure and shouldn’t be doing it in the first place. A well-trained physician will tell you that. A salon employee making minimum wage surviving off tips won’t tell you because of shady morals or plain ignorance.

What could go wrong you ask? Plenty, according to dermatologists. Laser hair removal works by going after the melanin in the hair follicle. But because melanin is surrounded by skin, the laser can cause burns and scars if done wrong.

So what can you do to get good results? Make sure you go to a licensed physician and inquire about when and where they received their training. You’ll also want to avoid going to your local salon and having a stylist do the procedure. You might have to pay more, but you’ll be happy in the end with the results.

The Health Local Staff is a team of writers and experts dedicated to bringing you the latest health, nutrition and lifestyle information at www.healthlocal.ca.